NGO working alliances

This kind of partnership usually emerges from the informal networking that occurs within the NGO community in a given country or in a given sector. NGOs may find it in their common interest to design and implement programs jointly. They may also commit or mobilize resources collaboratively. This partnership arrangement is based on the shared belief that the effort of the whole is greater and stronger than the effort of many separate parts.

NGO working alliances often act as an important voice within the donor community. Together, NGOs may be able to influence the priorities and programs of governments and major agencies. Through collaboration, NGOs can also leverage additional resources from major donors. NGO working alliances offer a powerful, credible, and well-grounded implementation structure. They often find it necessary and beneficial to incorporate the views and efforts of community-based structures and stakeholders in their alliances. NGO working alliances may be organized either loosely or in more formal associations, counsels, or consortia.

The Soros foundations may be partners in existing NGO working alliances. A national foundation might also stimulate the formation of working alliances, fund these alliances, or deliver programs through such implementation structures. Success of an NGO working arrangement depends heavily on coordination, communication and trust among its partners.

Remember: Whenever two or more individuals or organizations find it in their common interest to work together towards a specific outcome, there can be a partnership. The partnership arrangements described in this section are suggestive. These structures are not exclusive or exhaustive. More than one arrangement can be used in combination. For example, a matching approach may be used to finance an expansion plan, or a pilot project partnership may be carried out as part of a comprehensive program strategy with multi-donor financing. As long as there is a common agenda and trust in each other, partners can create other, new partnership arrangements to suit the situation.